MOL to jointly develop ammonia-fuelled liquefied gas carrier

Japanese firms Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Tsuneishi Shipbuilding and Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding have agreed to jointly develop an LPG-ammonia carrier that will run on ammonia.

PHOTO: A model of MOL's LPG-ammonia carrier. MOL

The trio expects to launch the vessel in 2026, which they claim to be the first “net zero emission ocean-going vessel”. They expect a rise in demand for ocean transport of ammonia amid thrust on decarbonisation of the maritime sector.

The design will allow the vessel to use some of its ammonia cargo as fuel, MOL says.

A study by shipping classification society DNV states hydrogen derivatives such as ammonia and methanol will play key roles in decarbonising the shipping sector.

Japan’s government has embraced ammonia as a future fuel. Last year, it announced ambitious plans to increase ammonia demand from shipping and the power sector to 30 million mt/year by 2050, from a current 1 million mt/year.

MOL has set net-zero emission target for 2050 and aims to operate 110 zero-emission vessels by 2035.